Buddhist believes that when one reaches enlightenment they have gotten rid of all suffering around them. The understanding is when one has gotten rid of distractions in life such as lust, arrogance, ignorance and other elements mentioned as a part of the ten fetters which prevent enlightenment, one is enlightened. The image above is usually what comes to mind when I think of Buddhist. I imagine someone who is in a state of bliss most of the time and is attempting to become thoughtless. I also think they are using meditation as a way to avoid the world around them. Although enlightenment is the goal of meditation, it takes time to achieve it. Therefore, I think meditation is used as a temporary escape route.
In the picture above the man is emptying trash out of his head. While one can temporarily take a moment to focus on the positive, I think the picture is giving the message that the way to enlightenment is to get rid of all thoughts and one would instantly become happy. Brad Warner said in his book, Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate that there is no instant way to enlightenment. He contradicted the stereotype by saying “…No amount of enlightenment will eliminate stress and tension from your life…The only technique in Zen is learning how not to add to existing tension” (190). I agree with Warner. One cannot undo the event and make it not happen at all. As a result we should deal with it in the best way to make the situation better. Some people may claim to reach enlightenment but at the end of the day if they still live a life that involves interacting with others and they will still experience things that may add tension in their life. Warner enforces this stereotype by the experiences that happened in his life. He lost his job, his mother and grandmother died and his marriage ended. Although all of these things happened to him he did not try to escape the reality. He dealt with it. Warner even mentioned his grandfather’s death and said that he did not reincarnate or go to heaven or hell. He said he still alive but only in his memories.
source for the pic used!!
